As the second princess, Xie Anning was doted on by the emperor and spoiled by her mother, which had made her rather arrogant.
No one knew what connection Lady Liu had with her, but she had even managed to invite the princess to this banquet.
"The Liu Mansion is really small. It's not even one - third the size of my princess mansion. Everything else is so tacky. Only this flower - wall is a bit interesting," Xie Anning said as she stepped onto the bridge, gently stroking the white cat in her arms. The cat's blue eyes kept turning, as if observing the surroundings.
Liu Peipei, the second daughter of the Liu family, smiled obsequiously. "Your Highness is right. How could our Liu Mansion compare with your princess mansion? This flower - wall was planted by my mother herself. It would be a great honor if it could amuse you."
Fu Zhen happened to be standing right under this flower - wall.
She had only thought this place was quiet and it would be easier to cover up any trouble. Who would have thought that she would become the center of attention now.
She was standing in a corner and was originally inconspicuous. But then Chen Huanyun suddenly said, "Hey? That person seems familiar."
Everyone's eyes turned towards her at once.
Fu Zhen secretly tightened the handkerchief in her hand, but on the surface, she could only smile faintly and step forward to salute. "Greetings to the second princess."
Xie Anning sized her up and asked, lifting her chin, "Who are you?"
Just as Fu Zhen was about to answer, Chen Huanyun suddenly said, "Isn't this Sister Fu? No wonder I didn't see you when I entered the mansion just now. So you came here to slack off."
Xie Anning looked at her and raised her eyebrows. "You know her?"
For this person who always flattered her, she had a rare impression. Her name seemed to be something Yun?
Chen Huanyun smiled slightly. "I think all the sisters know that I'm temporarily living in the Marquis Mansion. This is Sister Fu who lives with me in the mansion. She only came to the capital last year."
Hearing this, Xie Anning sneered. "I wondered who it was. So it's that country bumpkin. No wonder she's so unrefined."
For Xie Anning, who had been a pampered princess since childhood, anywhere outside the capital was a back - water place.
Even though Fu Zhen behaved gracefully and her clothes were understated yet luxurious, Xie Anning still looked down on her.
The noble ladies around them laughed softly, obviously in full agreement with Xie Anning's words. Occasionally, contemptuous glances fell on Fu Zhen.
Chen Huanyun in the crowd couldn't help showing a smug smile.
Fu Zhen always knew the common problem of these wealthy children. They always held their heads high when it came to those of lower status, as if lowering their heads would cost them their lives.
"If we talk about birth, I'm naturally inferior to all the sisters," Fu Zhen paused slightly and then said gently, "However, all under heaven belongs to the king. I and all of you are the emperor's subjects, protected by the emperor. We all eat grains and wear long gowns. As long as a person can make a living, have their own business, and live an ordinary life, being honest in this world, that's already quite decent."
Even though she had a humble birth, she had never complained about her fate. She would fight, strive, and seize whatever she wanted until she was bruised and finally got what she desired.
The people around suddenly changed their looks. If they retorted, it would mean they didn't recognize themselves as the emperor's subjects. How dared they respond?
But Xie Anning didn't think so much. She only felt that her face as a princess had been severely torn off and thrown on the ground. She was immediately angry and annoyed. "Who do you think you are? How dare you compare yourself with me! You keep talking about the emperor. What? Do you really think I'm afraid to lay hands on you? I'll teach you a lesson right now so that you'll know the might of the royal family!"
Saying this, regardless of the sudden and fierce struggle of the white cat in her arms, she suddenly raised her hand and was about to slap Fu Zhen in the face!
Fu Zhen suddenly tightened the handkerchief in her hand, her nails digging deeply into the flesh. She neither dodged nor avoided. She was actually ready to take this slap!
She couldn't dodge, otherwise she would be in the wrong even if she was right.
Who would have thought that before the slap landed, the cat in Xie Anning's arms let out a shrill meow. It kicked Xie Anning's embrace and rushed into Fu Zhen's arms like a cannonball. Its sharp claws were out, ready to tear her dress.
Fu Zhen was startled. She quickly reached out to block. "Ah!"
The strength of the crazy cat was too great. Fu Zhen was originally standing beside the lake. When she stepped forward to answer, several noble ladies had also come up behind her. At this moment, she was hit hard by the cat. She lost her balance and bumped into a young lady!
The young lady let out a scream and fell into the river!
Fu Zhen also fell heavily to the ground. There were three sharp scratch marks on her arm. The wounds were deep. In just a few blinks of an eye, blood flowed down her arm, staining a large area red.
The noble ladies around were immediately panicked. When had they ever seen such a scene?
Xie Anning never expected that her cat would cause such a disaster. She was speechless for a moment and only stammered, "It wasn't me who did it!"
She actually started by shifting the blame.
In a state of panic and seeing the chaotic scene, she looked around and then simply fled in a hurry.
The young lady in the lake kept struggling and shouting "Help" constantly. But every time she opened her mouth, she was filled with the cold lake water. It seemed that she was about to sink into the water due to exhaustion!
"What should we do? What should we do!" Those who were familiar with her were pacing around anxiously. They were all doted - on daughters at home. When had they ever witnessed someone drowning?
One or two smart ones immediately shouted, "Quick! Go find someone who can swim!"
"Don't find the servants. Find the old maids who can swim!" Fu Zhen covered her wound and frowned, shouting in a deep voice.
Her voice was calm, and her expression was not as panicked as others. For a moment, she actually managed to calm the situation.
As soon as she finished speaking, Bi Yu ran away quickly.
Fu Zhen scanned the area and saw that some people had been attracted by the commotion, including several strange young men. She immediately shouted, "Go stop those onlookers. If you don't want her reputation to be damaged and end up as a nun in a temple in the future, go and stop those men firmly. Don't let them know that someone has fallen into the water here!"
By this time, the noble ladies had reacted. The ones who were good friends with the drowning girl exchanged glances. They all stepped onto the bridge and, together with their maids, went forward to stop the people. They only said that the second princess's cat had thrown a tantrum and had jumped into the water, and they were looking for someone to fish it out.
On this side, Bi Yu quickly came back with an old maid. The old maid neatly jumped into the water, grabbed the girl, and dragged her onto the shore. Fu Zhen asked another old maid to take off her outer clothes and cover the girl with them. She found the right moment and asked Bi Yu to take the girl to the side - room first.
Fu Zhen's heart was pounding. She looked around at the people and lowered her voice. "This matter involves the second princess. You all should know how to keep your mouths shut, right?"
The noble ladies had already been intimidated by her. When they heard her mention the second princess, they didn't dare to refute. They nodded repeatedly and agreed one by one.
In just a moment, everyone had dispersed.
Seeing this, the noble ladies who had stopped the male guests also relaxed. Without the excitement, those people naturally left.
Fu Zhen took a deep breath. Her heart was pounding like a drum. When she looked down, she found that both her hands were shaking.